Furthermore, the social workers said, Anamarie might be a victim of Munchausen's syndrome by proxy - a psychological disorder that causes parents to harm their children in order to draw attention to themselves.

Factitious disorder by proxy, also known as Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, is characterized by a caregiver (often a mother) fabricating or inducing illness in her charge in order to attract medical attention.

Among them was the trial of a nurse diagnosed with Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, who received 13 life sentences for killing four children and injuring nine other patients.